Diplomats of ‘mid-powers’ discuss possible actions to take in a ‘polarized world’

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) – Diplomats, think tanks and academicians from MIKTA countries gathered on Thursday to discuss the current world agenda and the possible actions to take in a polarized world.

Aiming to explore insights and perspectives for the role of MIKTA in addressing the current global situation, people from countries of MIKTA, gathered for the Strategic Forum titled “The Role of MIKTA in a Polarized World” held at Ankara University in Turkish capital Ankara with the rotating chairmanship of Indonesia this year.

Ankara University’s Rector Necdet Unuvar made the opening remarks.

Mentioning that MIKTA was founded 10 years ago during the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York as a partnership between Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Türkiye and Australia, Unuvar said that the organization is “turning to a platform that is becoming more and more popular” in today’s world with its joint statements, regular meetings and the topics it has addressed over time.

“Academic development is a must on such platforms,” he emphasized, noting that this year’s academic meeting is also “very meaningful regarding especially the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and Israeli war on Gaza Strip” along with numerous other global issues.

Taking the floor right after Unuvar, university’s Vice Rector Hasan Serdar Ozturk indicated that the platform mainly focuses on internationally up-to-date topics such as “energy, fight with terrorism, democracy, development, gender equality and peace-building operations.”

MIKTA takes decisions and publishes joint statements to “bring voices of the oppressed to the world stage and facilitate global progress in various areas,” the academic pointed out.

- Loss of hope, confidence, trust

For his part, Indonesian Ambassador to Turkish capital, Achmad Rizal Purnama said that such meetings are “the warning signs, alerting us that our world is not fine.”

“People are losing hope. Our people are losing confidence,” he lamented. “People are losing trust in multilateral institutions and international cooperation.”

Mentioning that these “should come as a surprise,” the diplomat criticized the UN Security Council (UNSC) for not being able to “carry out its responsibility to save lives” by putting an end to the Israeli war on Gaza.

Referring to the MIKTA member states, Purnama underlined: “We will never turn a blind eye to our Palestinian brothers and sisters for peace, justice and status quo.”

“MIKTA cannot and should not stay idle in the face of these challenges,” he warned, adding that the organization is united as one despite all the differences between the member states.

“To be a positive force in the world full of negative ones, and to be a hub for country collaboration as about 20 economies as key players in our regions carry a significant weight,” he said.

He further praised the potential of the platform to build bridges in a polarized world, connecting developing and developed countries.

Ambassador Mehmet Kemal Bozay, deputy foreign minister and director for Türkiye’s EU Affairs, also made remarks regarding the forum.

The role of MIKTA in a polarized world is to depolarize it by “bringing all the countries from different regions of the globe to cooperate for better growth, for welfare, for stability and peace,” he asserted.

Praising the member countries for not having “any historical luggage on their shoulders,” Bozay stressed: “This is the advantage of these MIKTA countries.”

When the MIKTA members approach a problem, “they come with an impartial way, trying to find a just solution, find some just communication ways in order to bring more solidarity.”

Underlining the importance of finding new ways “to challenges new challenges that shape the international agenda,” the diplomat stated: “We know that the impacts of any small move or any small development in the global sense is wider than our regions.”

- Rewriting old-fashioned international principles

Following the remarks by Unuvar, Ozturk, Purnama and Bozay, Mexican Ambassador to Ankara Jose Luis Martinez, South Korean Ambassador to Ankara Won Ik Lee, Turkish Ambassador and Director-General for Multilateral Economic Affairs at Foreign Ministry Esen Altug, Australian Ambassador to Türkiye Miles Robert Armitage also expressed their views on the strategic forum.

Afterwards, the panelists also started to share their points of view about the current world agenda, the functionality of MIKTA in general, what it has achieved so far along with some criticisms on what it should do or focus on more.

Muhittin Ataman, director for Foreign Policy Studies Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) in Türkiye, pointed out the “conventional and non-conventional challenges and threats” that the world has been facing lately.

“We witness that, unfortunately, the whole system has collapsed,” he criticized.

“At least, we witness this collapse, this lack of leadership here in the Middle East,” he warned, regarding “the atrocities of the Israeli state against innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank.

Alongside the ongoing wars and conflicts worldwide, the Turkish official also mentioned the “intensifying global rivalry” especially between the US and China, which caused “the increase in uncertainty and insecurity” across the globe.

- Suggestions, criticisms

For his part, Christian Downie, who is an Associate Professor at the School of Regulation and Global Governance at Australian National University, also touched on how MIKTA can be used in the interests of the member countries.

Mentioning that the platform has the capacity to “strengthen bilateral ties between countries that didn’t always have necessarily strong bilateral dialogues,” the academic said that the organization “might come to be used as a potentially useful middle-power-grouping in other multilateral forums like the G20.”

It is of vital importance to “identify a small number of issues” to handle instead of trying to take care all the items of the world agenda, he suggested.

Hyun Jin Choi, a professor at the Department of Political Science and International relations at South Korea’s Kyung Hee University, was also one of the panelists who expressed their opinion.

“In the context of the growing US-China rivalry, MIKTA member countries can play pivotal roles, leveraging their unique positions as middle powers,” he advised.

As the last panelist, Diego Dominguez Cardona joined the forum as a Researcher on Multilateralism and Global Governance at the Mexican Foreign Ministry.

Praising the platform members for accomplishing their part by being “bridge and consensus builders” along with “a force for good, a supporter of multilateralism and diplomacy” to date, the Mexican official also expressed his criticisms about what the platform should start to focus on more.